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Jan. 31, 1956 A. F. JULIUS 2,732,794

DOUBLES TICKET ISSUER MECHANISM FOR RACE TOTALISATORS Filed May 10, 19544 Sheets5heet l .FQJIM/ 2: at: ifs 1i $9 mim 4 Jan. 31, 1956 A. F.JULIUS 2,732,794

DOUBLES TICKET ISSUER MECHANISM FOR RACE TOTALISATORS Filed May 10, 19544 Sheets-Sheet 2 2"LEG /47 I47 15/ 1 6/ 2,732,794 DOUBLES TICKET ISSUERMECHANISM FOR RACE TOTALISATORS Filed May 10, 1954 A. F. JULIUS Jan. 31,1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 .I' MZL'M Jan. 31, 1956 A. F. JULIUS 2,732,794

DOUBLES TICKET ISSUER MECHANISM FOR RACE TOTALISATORS Filed May 10, 19544 Sheets-Sheet 4 E LE BETTING United States Patent This inventionbelongs to that class of totalisator ticket issuer machine in whichmovement of an operators handpiece in selection of a competitor number,automatically conditions a type wheel for the printing of that number onthe ticket under preparation.

In prior issuer machines of the kind under discussion, the type wheelshaft has been directly geared to the vertical spindle carrying theoperators handpiece. it

follows that in such an arrangement the operator is the sole source ofpower for operating the linkage, turning the type wheel, and arrestingits momentum when a selection is being made. This use of manual powerbecomes tiring for the operator and can impair the efliciency of ticketissue by slow-down on the part of the operator. These disabilities areseldom gravely inconvenient where the issuer is one dealing withordinary "straight-out, place or lice single bets, but when the issueris one handling doubles or other bets involving substantially concurrentselection of a plurality of competitors as part of a single bettingtransaction, the mentioned disabilities become seriously objectionable.This is especially the case in issuers of the kind in question when ashas been previously proposed for the handling of doubles bets, they areequipped with two independently operable handpieces respectively relatedto the first and second legs of doubles bets.

It will be appreciated that the use of two handpieces is itselfobjectionable because it leaves the operator without a free hand fortaking money or for other use, also the work is necessarily slowed downto the working speed of the operators less eliicient and earlier-tiringhand.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-statedobjections in a simple manner, by the vision of a doubles ticket issuermachine of the kind referred to, in which the manual work is limited tothat necessary for more turning movement and depression of an unloadedhandpiece, or mere depression of a press button or buttons or otherhandpiece equivalent; and in which the prior requirement for twoseparate handpieces is obviated.

The invention may be summarised as primarily consisting in theprovision, in a doubles ticket issuer machine for a race totalisator, ofelectro-mechanical devices for setting the machine to print a ticket,comprising, a series of first leg selector switches, mechanism forclosing and retaining closed condition of any one of the first switchesto the exclusion of the entire remainder of said first switches, a firstleg rotatable type drum having printing faces respectively related tothe first switches, first leg circuiting and actuating means able toturn the first drum and halt it with its printing face corresponding toa closed first switch in a printing station, a series of second legselector switches, means for closing any one of the second switches tothe exclusion of the entire remainder of said second switches, lockingdevices which hold a closed second switch in closed condition andrestrain closure of any unclosed selector switch, a second leg ro-2,732,794 l Patented Jan. 31, 1

tatable type drum having printing faces respectively related to thesecond switches, second leg circuiting and actuating means able to turnthe second drum and halt it with its printing face corresponding to aclosed second switch in a printing station, and release mechanismwhereby the locking devices are unlocked after completion of a printingoperation by said corresponding printing faces. amples of the inventionare illustrated in the drawings herewith.

Figure l is a schematic perspective representation of an operators handlever and selector switch assembly.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of a part of theassembly shown in Figure 1.

.gure 3 is a schematic perspective representation of a type drum anddistributor switch drive assembly.

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram related to the'matters illustrated byFigures 1 to 3.

5 and 6 relate to an alternative embodiment of l gures the invention,Figure 5 being a partly sectioned schematic elevation of an operatorspress-button and selector switch assembly, and Figure 6 a circuitdiagram related to the assembly shown by Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a single hand-lever 7 is lulcrunied, abouta horizontal axis, on a lug 8 fixed on a sleeve 9 which is freelyrotatable about its longitudinal axis but is restrained, in conventionalmechanical manner, inst other movement. The free end of the hand lever(h, ing finger knob 10 on it) has a registration peg 13 on its undersidewhich may be freely travelled over a station y cir ular (or partcircular) selector dial plate 12. The eg ll is resiliently influenced toremain elevated just above and clear of the dial plate by a tensionspring 23 having its ends respectively anchored to a tail portion 14 ofthe hand lever and a pin '15 fixed on sleeve 9. The dial plate has twoseparate rows of holes 16 and 17 therein. One of these rows'(l6) may becalled a first leg row, the number of holes in it being equal to someselected maximum number of competitors in a first leg race. The numberof holes (17) in the other or second leg row is equal to a selectedmaximum number of competitors for a second leg race plus an extraholewhich may be called a test hole andthe purpose of which will beexplained later herein. The peg 11, upon depression of the hand lever 7may be freely entered into any one of the holes 16 or 17.

A pitrnan rod 18 is pivotally connected to the hand lever I about ahorizontal axis and this rod extends downally and centrally through thesleeve 9. The lower end of the oitman rod has one arm 19 of a latchlever pivctally connected thereto by way of a trunnion lug 20. Thislatch lever is fulcrumed at 21 and is preferably in the form of a bellcrank (as shown). Its other arm 22 step 23 therein engageable by acorner portion 24 of a locking lever 25 loaded by tension spring 26andfUiQTUl'E'lCJ at 27. This locking on lever has an arm 28therejuxtaposition with two pairs of handle lock con- 1 2; and 3b whichmay be in the form of spring leaves (as shown) and are so ararnged thatwhen the corner portion of the locking lever is engaged in the step 23on tl e lat h lever both The contacts 3%? are in the betting circuit,further described later herein and illustrated on the left-hand side ofFigure 4.

The sleeve 9 has a cam fixed thereon to which a spur 32 on the loc '1ever 25 is in follower relationship. The arranger: at is such that whenthe hand lever 7 is above any part of the first leg row of holes 16, thecam 31 obstructs the locking lever 25 thus to preventits engagement withthe latch lever step 23 and thus '(for'as long as the hand lever is overthe firstleg dial holes) prevent a closure of the handle lock contacts29 and 30. When the hand lever is over any portion of the second pairsof contacts 29 and 30 are closed.

Each of the dial plate holes, that is, both tl e first leg and secondleg holes 16 and 17, has an operating plunger, 33 and 34 respectively,associated therewith. In the form of the inevntion under descriptionthese plungers have their upper ends substantially flush with the holedupper surface of the dial plate 12 and extend downwardly therei from.The plungers are supported in suitable bearings (such as 35 in Figure 2)and each is loaded by a compression spring such as 36 so that at alltimes it tends to remain elevated in the described position in which itsupper end face is substantially flush with the dial plate.

The arrangement of the plungers is such that the registration peg 11 maybe selectively located above any one of the plungers and depression ofthe outer end of the hand lever 7 will then cause the registration pegto depress the registered plunger. The first leg plungers 33 each have aperipheral cam groove 37 into which the follower nose 3S on a cantileverspring leaf 39 extends. When the plunger 33 is depressed the nose 38rides upon the shoulder constituted by the upper full diameter portionof the plunger so that the related cantilever spring leaf is sidewardlydisplaced. This displacement sufiices for closure of a pair of first legcompetitor electrical contacts 40 of which there is a pair for each ofthe plungers 33. The lower end of each of the plungers 33 is formed as adouble conical latch portion 41 which is able to enter one of an areaaterow of holes 42 in a locking plate 43 which is in the form of a quadrantand is able to turn freely about the axis of the sleeve 9. The quadrantlocking plate 43 is furnished with a tension loading spring 44 whichtends to keep it abutted against a stationary stop pin 45. The lockingplate arrangement is such that when a first leg plunger 33 is depressed,its lower end enters one of the holes 42 in the locking plate 43slightly displacing it against the loading of its spring 44 in so doing.The spring 44 of the locking plate 43 then causes it to enter a groove46 at the upper end of the double conical latch portion 41 so that thatplunger (the depressed plunger) is held in depressed position by thelocking plate 43 and will be released for upward movement under theinfluence of its own loading spring 36 only when another one of thefirst leg plungers is depressed so to re-displace the locking plate,which releases the first depressed plunger and results in the seconddepressed plunger being held by the locking plate in depressed position.

The second leg plungers 34 are similar to the first leg plungers insofaras they are vertically depressible against spring-loading pressure andhave a groove 47 for a follower nosing 48 on a spring leaf cantilever49. The second leg plungers, however, are not (in the embodiment of theinvention under description) furnished with locking plate or similarmeans as above described for retaining them in depressed position.

The cantilever spring leaves 49, one of which is associated with each ofthe second leg plungers 34, each have three spring contact leaves 54 51and 52 associated therewith. In each of these groups of three contactsthe outer contact 50 is a signal lamp contact, and the other outercontact 52 is a second leg competitor contact and the middle contact 51which is able to bear against either one of the outer contacts isnormally in touch with its signal lamp contact 50; that is (at all timesof operation) when the related second leg plunger is not depressed.Depression of a second leg plunger by use of the hand lever, causes thecentre contact 51 associated with that plunger to leave its signal lampcontact 59 and move into touch with its second leg competitor contact52.

Each pair of first leg competitor contacts 4%) is connected to onecontact stud 53 in a first leg stationary distributor plate 54 havingits studs disposed as a circular row engageable by one limb 5:" of afirst leg rotatable wiper arm. The other limb 56 of the wiper arm bearsagainst a first leg slip ring contact 57 connected to one end of a firstleg relay coil 58. The number of studs 53 is one greater than theselected maximum number of first leg competitors, one stud beingavailable for testing purposes as explained later herein.

Each pair of first leg contacts 49 has a signal lamp 59 seriallyconnected thereto, each signal lamp being mounted in a bracket as undera numbered translucent window or the like (not shown) so to illuminate anumber corresponding to the first leg competitor dial plate holes. Thearmature for the first leg relay coil 58 carries a contact being one ofa pair of first leg magnet contacts 61 which are closed when the firstleg relay coil is de-energised and open when that coil is energised.These contacts constitute a switch in the circuit of a first leg magnetcoil 62 having an armature in the form of an escapement awl lever s3whereof the spur is engageable with a first eg escapement wheel 64 (whenthe magnet coil 62 is de-energised) under the influence of a tensionspring 65.

Escapement wheel 64 is fixed at one with a gear wheel 66 which is inmesh with a first leg wiper driving gear at fixed on the shaft 63 whichcarries the wiper -56. The gear 66 also meshes with a driving gear 69 atone with the driven portion of a slipping clutch whereof the drivermember 71 is constantly rotated during operation or" the apparatus. Thisconstant rotation of the driving element of the first leg slippingclutch may be by electric motor 72 and belt drive 73 or otherwise aswell understood. The gear wheel 69 also meshes a driving gear '74 for afirst leg type drum 75 whereof the printing faces are one more in numberthan the number of first leg competitors (one face being for test) andeach of said faces carries a type inscription corresponding to a firstcompetitor number or name, except for the extra face which may simplycarry the word Test.

As stated above, the first leg magnet contacts 61 are opened uponenergisation of the first leg relay coil 58. This coil has an additionalfunction in that energisation thereof also causes closure of a pair offirst leg betting circuit contacts '76, the purpose of which will beexplained later herein.

The circuits through the first leg selector contacts 4% are completedthrough a pair of first leg selection common contacts 77. The contacts77 form part of a twoway switch which is of the same kind as the secondleg selector switches (5t), 51, 52) in that a middle movable leaf isable to close against either of two outer leaves. The middle leaf isspring influenced so that it tends to keep the contacts '77 open. InFigure 4 these contacts are shown open with the middle leaf closingfirst leg test contacts 78. That is only because, for convenience ofsubsequent description, Figure 4 represents the circuiting arrangementsas they would be when not in use; that is, prior to closure of the mainswitches for the system. During ordinary use it is the contacts '77which remain closed and not the test contacts 78, as will be explainedlater herein.

As previously explained the middle leaves 51 of the second leg selectorswitches are normally (that is, while the respective plungers 39 are intheir elevated or undepressed position) touching the signal lampcontacts Stl which are connected to the negative line 7% through thelamps 80. These lamps perform the same indicating function for secondleg selections as the lamps 59 perform in respect of first legselections, as will be described later herein.

Each of the middle leaves 51 is connected to one contact stud ill in asecond leg stationary distributor plate 82 having its studs engageableby one limb'83 of a sccond leg rotatable wiper arm. The other wiper limb$4 bears against a second leg-slip ring contact 85 which is connecteddirectly to the positive line 86. The number of studs 81 is one greaterthan the number of second leg competitors, the extra stud being a teststud.

The circuits through the second leg contacts 52 are completed through apair of second leg selection common contacts ti? which (except during atest and when the whole system is on open circuit, as shown) arenormallyclosed, and form part of a two way switch which includes second leg testcontacts 33. The middle leaf of the switch S7, S8 is connected tonegative through a second leg relay coil The armature for coil 89carries a contact being one of a pair of second leg magnet contacts 99whichare closed when coil 89 is de-energised and open when that coil isenergised.

Contacts constitute a switch (in series with handle lock contacts 29) inthe circuit of a second leg magnet coil 91 having an escapement pawlarmature 92 whereof the spur 93 is engageabie with a second legescapement wheel 94 (when the magnet 91 isde-energised) under theinfluence of a tension spring 95.

The escapernent wheel 94 is fixed to gear Wheel $6 which meshes a secondleg wiper driving gear 37 fixed on the shaft 93 which carries second legwiper 33-84. The gear in; also meshes with a driving gear $9 fixed tothe driven portion Till) of a second leg slipping clutch whereof thedriver member 191 is keyed on the shaft 162 on which the first iegdriver member 7i is also keyed. The gear wheel $9 meshes a driving gear193 for second leg type drum which is similar to first leg drum 7S.

Energisation of the second leg relay 8 in addition to opening the magnetcontacts 9% (which are normally closed) closes a pair of normally opensecond leg betting circuit contacts hi5.

it will be recalled that earlier herein one of the holes 17 in the dialplate 12 was referred to as a test hole. The hand lever peg ii isdescended into this hole when it is required to ascertain whether theticket production mechanism is in good order. In this ascertainment aticket is actually printed and produced, bearing (for example) twoimprints of the word Test (as markedthereon by the drums 75' and 1 34)instead of two competitor numbers as would be the case in production ofan ordinary ticket for a real transaction. I

it is essential that productionof a test ticketcause no energisation ofthe betting circuits, otherwise the adding units which are actuated byclosure of those circuits would integrate a test operation as if it werea real transaction.

To isolate the betting circuits during test, a pair of normally closedtest contacts 196 are provided. While these contacts are closed a testrelay 107 is energised. When this relay is energised it holds thecontacts 77 and 87 closed (and therefore holds contacts 78 and 88 openagainst the influence of their loading springs)'and also holds contactsi 38, i139, Hii and ill'open in the betting section. Open condition ofthese contacts necessarily holds the contacts 112, 113, 114 and 115closed.

The normally closed test contacts 196 may be on a pair of leaves,similar to those of the first selector switches 4%, except that they areopened by an operating plunger such as 34, positioned under the testhole in the dial plate 12.

The betting or adding unit circuits which connect each ticket issuingmachine to the adding units appropriate for integration and registrationof the transactions (represented by tickets issued and sold) in respectof each kind of transaction, and of the grand total of transactions, maybe of more-or-less conventional design. However, the presence of thestationary selector distributors 54 and 82 and the selector wiperarrangements associated therewith provides for a particularly convenientand 3 simple expedient for conditioning'the betting circuits in absoluteconsonance with the type wheel settings.

In the preferred arrangeir'ent, the stationary selector distributorplates 54 and 82, each have an extra stationary distributor plate, 116and 117 respectively, associated therewith. These extra plates may beexactly similar to the plates 54 and 82, except that in such case thecontact studs thereof, corresponding to the test studs in the plates 54and 82, serve no useful purpose.

The first leg betting circuit distributor plate 116 has contact studs3.18 which are swept by a betting wiper arm 11%. The other Wiper arm 120runs on a slip ring contact 121 which is connected to contacts 113 (seeFigure 4). The wiper 11l2il is in phase with the selector wiper 5556 andis keyed on the same shaft 68.

Similarly, the second leg betting circuit distributor plate 117 hascontact studs 122 swept by a wiper arm 123. The other wiper arm 124 runson a slip ring contact 125 connected to contacts 115 (see Figure 4-).The betting wiper 123-124 is in phase with selector wiper S384 and iskeyed on the same shaft 98.

The contact studs 11S and 122 are connected to known adding units inknown manner. For example, the wipers 119 and 123 may be regarded as theequivalent of the selector switch arms marked F and H in the drawingforming part of the specification of Australian Patent No. 137,946 (orits equivalent United States Patent No. 2,534,602). in such case thecontact studs and 122 correspond to the contact series marked J and K inthe said prior drawing, these contacts (H8 and 122) then forming part ofadding circuits also as described in the said prior specification. Thebetting circuits as referred to above necessarily incorporate a rotarydistributor of the kind marked 1" in the said prior drawing.

With the described arrangement of distributors and wipers, the extrawipers 119 and 123 (in the adding unit circuits) will always be locatedupon the studs 118 and 122m direct consonance with the halting positionsof the first and second leg type drums 7'5 and 194. Thus, the bet asregistered by the adding units will always truly correspond with theticket which is printed as record of the particular bet, and this willbe so even in the most unlikely event of the type drums halting inpositions at variance with the o'perators orig'ial selections.

Inthe bettingcircuit arrangements shown in Figure 4 there are competitorwires (shown bunched at 126) for the first leg competitors, and (shownfor the'sec'ond leg'competi'tors. There is also a first leg common wire128 and a second leg common wire 129. These competitor and common wiresare connected to the adding unit magnets as indicated above or otherwiseas well'understoo'd.

In the ticket issuer machine, the first leg common wire 128 passesthrough the contacts 112 (held closed by energisation of test relay107), and thence through an ordinary issuer trip coil 13% and anassociated trip contact 131. It then goes through contacts 76 (governedby the first leg relay coil 58) through contact 113 (governed by testrelay 107 to the wiper 119 of the first leg extra distributor 116, andthence to the adding unit corresponding'to the position in which thefirst leg type drum 75 is halted.

The trip coil 130 and its contacts 131 operate in known manner; that is,the contacts 131 are normally closed and upon energisation of coil 13%they are opened (as a consequence of that energisation) and a pair ofnormally open'clutch contacts 132' are thereby closed.

The contacts 132 are connected (by wire 13-3) to the clutch 134 and uponclosing energise the clutch so that it initiates the usual ticketproduction mechanical cycle of a ticket issuing machine such as shown inUnited States Patent No. 1,744,771. This cycle includes printing theticket strip, feeding it through the printing station, guillotining theprinted ticket from the strip, and then halting bunched at 127) themechanism in readiness for the next ticket production cycle.

The main issuer drive shaft which is operated by clutch 134, or someother shaft geared thereto, is indicated at 135 in Figure 1. This shafthas a lock release cam 136 keyed on it. A tail portion 137 of thelocking lever 25 lies in the throw path of cam 136. The throw distanceand the setting of cam 136 relative to the shaft 135 are such thatimmediately or shortly following completion of a ticket printing, thecam rides across the tail portion 137 and depresses it sufiiciently tolift the corner 2 clear of the step 23 in latch lever 19, 22.

The second leg common wire 129 goes through contacts 114 (governed bytest relay 107), and through the handle lock contacts 36 which areclosed only when the hand lever 7 is locked down by the locking lever25. The wire 129 then passes through the contacts 1S5 (governed by thesecond leg relay coil 89) the contacts 115 (governed by the test relay1197) the wiper 123 and then to the adding units. The contacts 76 and1115 are only closed when the first and second relay coils 58 and 89 areenergised and this occurs only when the two type drums 75 and 1114 arein the required selected positions.

It will be appreciated that occasionally the selector hand lever may beerroneously depressed in respect of a selector switch which is not inuse (e. g. because of a competitor scratching) or the hand lever couldbe mischievously depressed on a first leg plunger 33 and then lockeddown over a second leg plunger 39 when the current is not turned on.Under such circumstances it is important that no energization of thebetting circuit and no production of a ticket take place. It is alsonecessary for the lockeddown hand lever to be released for furtheroperation. These requirements can be taken care of in well-known mannerby the provision of press button or like release means which operate onthe locking lever 25 (in much the same manner as cam 136) thus freeingthe hand lever and opening the contacts 29 and 38. Such releasing meansmust, of course, be operable only prior to energization of the bettingcircuit, because once a transaction has been integrated by the addingunits it becomes fully effective as a transaction and a ticket mustissue therefor even although it is a ticket which has an unrequiredcompetitor number (or two such numbers) printed on it.

When the above described apparatus is to be used, the hand lever 7 willbe elevated and freely movable (unless it has been mischievously orinadvertently depressed over a second leg dialling hole prior to turningon the current, in which event it may be released as described above)and one of the first leg plungers will be depressed and held down by thelocking plate as it Was left following the last previous use of themachine; or, if the machine is being used for the first time, all of thefirst leg plungers may be elevated, but that is of no importance.

The current is then turned on by closure of the main switches 133 and139 (see Figure 4) the switches 140 (for fuse 141) also being closed ifnot already closed.

The usual first task is to test the ticket production cycle by printinga test ticket. For this task the hand lever peg 11 is simply thrust intothe test dialling hole in the second leg series of dial holes 17. Beforedoing this, however, if none of the first leg plungers 33 is alreadydepressed, the only result of turning on the current will be (a)starting of motor 72, (b) illumination of that particular lamp 811 whichhappens to be in circuit with the wiper 83, 34, and (c) energization ofmagnet 62 due to the contacts 61 being normally closed when the firstleg relay coil 53 is de-energized, as would be the case if none of thefirst leg selector switches 40 is closed (none of the plungers 33 being,as yet, depressed). As a consequence of energization of magnet 62 thefirst leg escapement pawl 63 will be clear of its escapement wheel 64,hence the continuously running drive for the slipping clutch 713, 71will be effective, and the first leg type drum 75 and the wipers 55, 56and 119, 126 will all be rotating harmlessly and inefiectively. Thesecond leg type wheel 104 will still be held stationary because althoughcontacts 90 will be closed (because second leg relay 89 is, for the timebeing, de-energized due to none of the second leg plungers 34 beingdepressed to close the second selector switches 52 including the testswitch) the contacts 29 will still be open.

If on the other hand one of the first leg selector switches is closedwhen the current is first turned on (as would almost invariably be thecase) neither of the escaprnent wheels 64 and 94 is freed for rotation,wheel 94 for the same reason as above stated (contacts 29 still open)and Wheel 64 because current through the first leg selector circuitcorresponding to the first leg depressed plunger energizes relay 58which in turn holds contacts 61 open. The second leg betting circuitwill not be closed because the contacts 31 will still be open, and thefirst leg betting circuit will not be closed, although contacts 76 willbe closed due to energization of relay 58, because the rotarydistributor which governs the betting circuits is only effective inclosing either the first or second leg betting circuits when it closesthose two circuits simultaneously.

To proceed with the test operation, the hand lever peg 11 is thrust intothe test dial hole 17. This depresses the test plunger and opens thetest contacts 1116. Opening of these contacts de-energizes the testrelay 1117 the effect of which is that all of the contacts 108, 109,111i, 111, '78 and 88, are closed by spring action and in that actioncontacts 112, 113, 114, 115, 77 and 87 are all necessarily opened. Bythis action both the first and second leg betting circuits are openedand hence, for the time being, they are unable to send any impulse tothe adding units. Opening of contacts 77 (irrespective of whether one ofthe first leg selector switches was or was not closed) by opening all ofthe first leg selector circuits causes or confirms deenergization of thefirst leg relay coil 58 unless it should happen that the wiper 55 waspreviously left upon the test stud 53. Assuming the wiper 55 was notalready on the test stud 53, the relay 58 is de-energized. This causescontacts 61 to close and thus the magnet 62 is energized. Thisenergization pulls the pawl 63 from the escapement wheel 64 which thenrotates under the urge of its slipping clutch 70, 71. Rotation of theescapement wheel 64 causes similar rotation of type drum and wiper 55.When wiper 55 arrives on the test stud 53 (or if it happened to be onthat stud at the outset) the relay 58 is energized (through closedcontacts 78) with the result that contacts 61 are immediately opened.This de-energizes magnet 62 so that the pawl 63 re-engages itsescapement wheel 64 thereby halting it, at the same time halting wiper55 on its test stud 53 (marked Test in Figure 4) and halting the typedrum 75 with its test printing face in its printing station. The testenergization of relay 58 will also have caused closure of the contacts76.

Conditioning of the first leg test circuits as above described isconcurrent with a similar conditioning process in the second legcircuiting arrangements. That is, if the wiper 83 is not already on thetest stud 31 (marked Test in Figure 4) the relay 89 is tie-energizedtherefore the contacts 90 are closed, contacts 29 will also have beenclosed (by the arm 28see Figure l) and therefore the magnet 91 isenergised. This releases the pawl 92 from escapement wheel 94 thusenabling rotation of the type dmrn 194 and the wiper 33. This rotationof the wiper 83 will cause sequential flashing of the lamps (becausetheir contacts 50 are still closed) but that is of no importance. Whenthe wiper 83 arrives on its test stud 81 the circuit through relay 89 iscomplete and energisation thereof will open contacts thus halting thewiper 83 and the drum 104 in their test positions.

Energization of relay 89 also closes contacts 105 in the second legbetting circuit, and closure of contacts 36 will also have been effectedby the arm 28. In connection with this latter event, and thesimultaneous closure of contacts 30, it will be recalled that the testdialling hole is in the second leg hole series marked 17 in Figure 1,therefore when the hand lever peg 11 is depressed into the test diallinghole the locking lever 25 (or rather the spur 32 thereon) will not beobstructed by the cam 31. Therefore the locking lever corner 24 is ableto slip into the step 23 on the latching lever 19 when that lever isturned by depression of the hand lever. This descent of the corner 24into the step 23 locks the hand lever in its downthrust position andrenders it immovable (for the time being) because its peg 11 is hornedinside the test dialling hole. At the same time, descent of corner 24into the step 23 causes sufficient movement of the arm 28 for it toclose both contacts 29 and 30.

With closure of the contacts 76, 30 and 105 a test betting circuit iscompleted through wire 142, contacts 109, 76 and 131, trip coil 130,contacts 108, test load 143 (which may be a Test indicator lamp)contacts 110, 30, 105 and 111, and wire 144. Completion of this circuit,by energisation of the trip magnet 130, opens the trip contacts 131 andcloses the clutch contacts 132. This in turn energises the clutch 134 sothat the mechanical ticket production cycle is started and a ticket isissued bearing the imprint of the test faces of the two type drums 75and 104. Just before the end of the mechanical cycle, the cam 136 ridesacross the tail piece 137 of the locking lever 25 thus lifting thecorner 24 clear of the step 23. When this happens, the spring 13 liftsthe free end of the hand lever so that its peg 11 is free of the testdial hole and is again free to move over the dial plate. The releasemovement of the hand lever also causes the latching lever 19, 22 toreassume the position shown in Figure 1, and when the cam 136 movesclear of the tail piece 137 the locking lever 25 also reassumes itsposition shown in Figure l, in which, both of the contacts 29 and 30 areagain open.

Release of the peg 11 from the test dial hole will, of course, re-closethe test contacts 106; therefore, the test relay is re-energised therebycausing contacts 112, 113, 114, 115, 7'7 and 87 to re-assume closure, atthe same time automatically opening the several test contacts 108, 109,119 111, 78 and 88.

The end point of the mechanical cycle (as is well known) consists inre-opening of the clutch contacts 132 and re-closure of the tripcontacts 131, so that the entire apparatus is then ready for a nextticket production.

When the apparatus of Figures 1 to 4 is used in production of anordinary doubles ticket the hand lever '7' is swung over the selectedfirst leg competitor dial hole 16 and is depressed. This will releasethe formerly engaged first leg plunger 33 (if any) so that its lamp 59is extinguished and the newly depressed plunger will be held down by thequadrant locking plate 43. The elevation of the previously depressedfirst leg plunger will open the first leg contacts 40 for that plungerthereby de-energising the first leg relay coil 58. This de-energisationcauses the first leg magnet contacts 61 to close so that the first legmagnet 62 is energised. This energisation withdraws the pawl 62 from theescapement wheel 64 which is thus freed for rotation and is so rotatedper medium of the slipping clutch 70, 71. This motivation also rotatesthe type drum 75 and the distributor wiper 55, 56. The type drum andwiper rotations will continue until the Wiper touches the distributorcontact stud 53 connected with the contacts 40 which are, for the timebeing, closed. In this position of the wiper the circuit isre-established through the first leg relay coil 58 so that the contacts76 are closed, the magnet contacts 61 are re-opened and the magnet 62 isde-energised. This de-energisation enables the spring-loaded pawl 63 toreturn to its escapement wheel thus halting it and thereby halting thefirst leg distributor wiper and the first leg type drum in correctposition in readiness to print the 10 selected first leg competitornumber on the ticket in course of preparation.

Closure of the last mentioned circuit also closes and illuminates thesignal lamp 559 for the selected first leg competitor in respect ofwhich the first leg plunger is stiil held depressed by the quadrantlocking plate. The hand lever is then moved over the second legcompetitor dial holes 17. The first result of this action is to rotatethe locking lever obstruction cam 31 from its obstructive position sothat as far as that cam is concerned the locking lever is now free tomove under the influence of its loading spring 26. Depression of thehand lever, so that the selected second leg competitor plunger 34 isalso depressed, closes the selected second leg competitor contacts 52.This downward motion of the hand lever also rocks the latch lever 19 sothat the corner 24 of the spring-loaded locking lever 25 may engage inthe step 23, thus, for the time being, preventing the hand lever frombeing lifted or otherwise moved from its depressed positioncorresponding to selection of the second leg competitor. The lockingmotion of the locking lever also closes the locking lever contacts 29and 30.

Because the second leg relay coil 89 has up to this point beenale-energised, the second leg magnet contacts 90 will have been closed,and closure of the locking lever contacts 2% thus completes the circuitfor the second leg magnet e 1 so that the escapement wheel is freed forrotation thus rotating the type drum 1% to a position, in readiness forprinting the selected second leg competitor number, and also turning thedistributor wiper 33, 84. When this Wiper arrives in its positioncorresponding to the selected second leg competitor the ci cuit throughthe relay coil is ire-established thus opening the contacts to hold thesecond type drum 164- as required.

Rotation of the wipers 55 and will have similarly rotated the bettingwipers 11% and 122i, and re-energisation of the relay will have closedthe contacts 165,-. Thus the betting circuit is conditioned for finalclosure by the usual rotary distributor the action of which isequivalent to the closure of an ordinary switch at any convenient pointin the circuit; for example, in the first leg common wire 128. Thebetting circuit is thus closed and its path consists of the common wire123, contact 112, trip coil 13%, contacts 131, '76 and 113, wiper 119,the contact stud 113 corresponding to the selected first leg competitor,the adding unit operating magnets appro priate to the selected first andsecond leg competitors, the contact stud 122 corresponding to theselected second leg competitor, the wiper 123, contacts 115, iii-5, 3i;and and the second leg common wire The betting circuit will, of course,energise the usual grand total adding unit magnets as well understood.

Completion of the betting circuit (which causes registration of thetransaction in the appropriate adding unit and the grand total addingunit) energises the trip coil 13% so that the betting circuit is openedby opening of the trip contacts 131. As previously explained herein,this causes closure of the clutch contacts L12 thus starting themechanical production cycle for the ticket imprinted with the twocompetitor numbers originally selected.

As the mechanical ticket production cycle approaches its end, and at anypoint in that cycle after the printing; operation is finished, the handlever 7 (which is locked down in the position of the second legselection) is re leased in readiness for handling a next transaction,and the contacts 29 and re-opened, by operation of cam 136 as previouslydescribed herein.

Unlocking of the hand lever and the resulting elevation of the plunger34 corresponding to the second leg competitor last selected, opens therelated contacts and closes the related contacts 51 so that the lampcorresponding to that second leg section then lights up because it iseffectively circuited through the wiper 83.

It will be seen that with the apparatus as described above, if aplurality of identical tickets are required (covering the same doublescombinaiton) the operator only has to hold the hand lever depressed(against the urge of spring 13) in the position or its second legselection and the issuer will continue to print and issue tickets forthe selected combination until the operator allows the hand lever torise in its normal unlocking movement. Similarly, if a number of ticketsare required coupling a particular first leg competitor with a pluralityof second leg competitors, the operator does not have to re-select thefirst leg for each ticket, as the selected first leg selector switchwill remain latched down until such time as a different first legcompetitor is selected.

In a modified arrangement of the invention, closure of the first andsecond selector switches is effected by finger depression of pressbuttons (one for each selector switch and one for test) instead of by ahand lever as previously described herein. In this arrangement twoseries of selector switches are provided as before, and each of theseswitches is capable of closure by a spring; loaded plunger the upper endof each of which may be formed on or be pressed by, a finger button in adial plate. Each of the button rows may be straight or armate and thelower ends of the switch plungers are each engageable with one of twospring-loaded independently movable locking plates each equivalent tothat numbered 43 in the first described embodiment of the invention.

The modified arrangement is illustrated (in principle only and withmechanical elements shown purely by way of example) in Figure 5, and asa circuit diagram in Figure 6.

Referring to Figures and 6 an orificed dial plate 145 is providedthrough the holes of which project a plurality of first leg selectorpress buttons 146, a plurality of second leg press buttons 147, a startbutton 148, and a test button (not specifically illustrated, but thesame as any of the buttons 146 or 147). Only three press buttons areshown in each of the first and second leg series. In an actualinstallation there would be any required plurality of buttons, forexample, twenty in each series.

Each of the selector buttons (and the test button) has a plunger portion149 furnished with a larger diameter shoulder I50 able to ride past andsidewardly displace a selector switch spur 151 thereby to close a firstleg selector switch 152 or a second leg selector switch 153 or to open anormally closed test switch (not shown). Each of the plungers, and that(154) of the start button 143, is restrained against other than endwisemovement and is spring-loaded in the same (or mechanically equivalent)manner as that shown with respect to one of the plungers 33 in Figure 2.Each of the buttons 147 and 148 are furnished with means such as stoppins 155 which prevent over projection of the buttons above the dialplate 145.

The first and second leg plungers are furnished with conical latchportions 156 which are the same as those (46) of the first leg plungers33 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and which are similarly engageable withfirst and second leg locking plates 157 and 158 respectively. Theselocking plates have holes 159 therein and such plates in all respectsare mechanically equivalent to that numbered 43 in Figure 1, beingrespectively loaded by tension springs 161) and 161 which at all timesinfluence each to move (in the illustrated embodiment) away from theother.

In the press button operated embodiment of the invention it is necessary(as in the earlier described embodiment) that means be provided to lockthe selector switch operating means against re-actuation before theadding unit circuit has been closed and the ticket production cycleirrevocably initiated. In the earlier described arrangement thisrequirement was taken care of by the locking arrangements associatedwith the operators hand lever. As the modified arrangement has no handlever the locking devices may be associated with the locking plates I57and 158 and may consist of an electromagnet 162 connected in parallelwith the clutch 12 163 so that when that circuit is energized a lockplunger 164 is operated tto enter between the adjacent ends of thelockingplates thus to obstruct both of them and thereby prevent risingof the depressed selector switch plungers and descent of the undepressedplungers.

It will be appreciated that in the press-button embodiment someequivalent will be necessary for the handle lock switch (31llFigures 1and 4) which is responsible for initiating operation of the betting andissuer clutch circuits, and for the locking means associated therewith.These equivalent means may consist of those earlier described; namely, avertically movable pitman rod such as 18 and the locking means (latchinglever 19 and locking lever 25) and the handle lock switch 3% associatedtherewith, except that the pitrnan instead of being pivotally connectedto a handpiece simply has its upper end formed as a finger depressiblebutton; for preference, however, the arrangement is as shown at theleft-hand end of Figure 5. In this arrangement the start plunger 154 hasa locking head 165 on its lower end. A locking lever 166 fulcrumed at167 is loaded by a tension spring 163 so that when the but ton 148 issufficiently depressed a spur 169 on lever 166 hooks over the head 165and, for the time being, prevents the plunger 154 from returning to itsusual undepressed position. When the spur engages over the upper face ofhead 165 the resulting angular movement of the lever 166 about itsfulcrum sufiices for a second spur 170 to close look contacts 171. Thesecontacts are the equivalent of the contacts 31 shown in Figures 1 and 4.

The tail portion 172 of locking lever 166 has a release cam 173associated therewith. This cam is the equivalent in its manner and timeof operation relative to the locking lever 166, of the earn (136,Figure 1) relative to the locking lever 25.

In the press button embodiment a second handle locking switch such as 29(Figures 1 and 4) will be unnecessary because its function can befulfilled by that one of the second leg selector switches 153 whichstays closed (even after the previously selected first leg selectorswitch 152 is opened). This is in contradistinction to the firstembodiment, because in that embodiment all of the second selectorswitches (52) are unavoidably opened when the handle lock is released.In other words, when the lock is released in the press button embodimenta selector switch in each of the first and second leg series thereofremains closed, .whereas in the first embodiment no second selectorswitch remains closed when the handpiece rises due to its beingunlocked. The second handle lock switch (29) is desirably present in thefirst embodiment because otherwise the second type drum 104 would beconstantly rotating whenever it was not conditioned for or engaged in anactual printing operation. It is, of course, desirable for all of thesecond leg selector switches in the first embodiment to be openedsimultaneously with release of the handle look so that the indicatorlamp circuit will be closed. Such lamps are not necessary in thepress-button embodiment because mere depression of the buttons gives aclear indication of the selections currently made. Further as lamps arenot needed in the press-button embodiment the second leg selectorswitches may be the simple two-leaf switches 153 which are the same asthose employed in the first leg selector switch series in bothembodiments.

The mechanism shown in Figure 3 is applicable, without alteration, tothe press button embodiment of the invention.

The circuit details shown in Figure 6 are substantially the same asthose shown in Figure 4 except for the inclusion of the locking magnet162 in the betting section and the omission of lamps such as 59 and 80from the selector switch circuits. The first leg selector switchcircuits are completed through a first leg relay coil 174 which whenenergised opens the contacts 175 of a first leg magnet coil 176 which isthe same as that marked 62 in Figures 3 and 4. The second leg selectorswitch circuits are similarly completed through a second leg relay coil177 which when energised opens the contacts 178 of a second leg magnetcoil 179 which is the same as that marked 91 in Figures 3 and 4. Thetest contacts 180 and the test relay 181 are the same as those itemsmarked 106 and 107 in Figure 4, energisation of relay 181 causingclosure of the several test contacts 182 to 187 in the same manner aspreviously explained herein.

It will be appreciated that the described embodiments of the inventionare preferred forms intended for use mainly in large scale totalisatorinstallations catering for the preparation and sale of tickets, and theregistration of the transactions to which those tickets apply, innumbers which may run ino many thousands in the course of a singleafternoon. Because of that the described embodiments include severalfeatures which are desirably present, but which if omitted would notleave the remainder deprived of all utility. Omission of some suchfeatures would in some degree render the apparatus less fool proof butwould still leave it as a useful apparatus provided greater reliancewere placed upon the operatives ability not to make errors of judgmentwith damaging frequency.

For example, indicator lamps such as 59 and 80 could be omitted from theembodiment of Figures 1 to 4 with consequent simplification of thesecond leg selector switch arrangements in that embodiment. Again, theprovision of means for the printing of test tickets could be dispensedwith in both described embodiments thus giving further simplification ofthe apparatus.

If desired, the betting circuit arrangements could be of a type whollydiiferent from those described, even to the extent of being operablemanually or otherwise within the judgment of an operative, instead of asan inevitable automatic consequence of conditioning a pair of typewheels for printing a pair of selected numbers on a ticket as hereindescribed. In short, the crux of the invention resides in the provisionof particular means which in re spouse to two selective operations causetwo type drums to present their printing faces, appropriate to theselections, to a printing station. Thus, if the described apparatus wererestricted to the parts thereof which contribute only to the requiredsetting of the type drums a useful apparatus would be realised. That isto say, it would be useful simply for the purpose of conditioning twotype wheels in strict accordance with two selections, irrespective ofhow the actual printing operation by the conditioned drums may beeffected, and irrespective of the manner in which the transaction towhich the two selections relate may be registered.

Having now fully described and ascertained my said invention and themanner in which it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. In a doubles ticket issuer machine for a race totalisator,electro-mechanical devices for setting the machine to print a ticketcomprising a series of first leg selector switches, depressible plungersfor closing said first switches, a return spring associated with each ofsaid plungers, spring loaded latch and locking means associated withsaid plungers whereby a newly depressed plunger is held in thatcondition and any previously depressed plunger is thereby released fromthat condition, a first leg rotatable type drum having printing facesrespectively related to said first switches, first leg circuiting andactuating means which in response to closure of one of said firstswitches turn said first drum and then halt it with its printing facecorresponding to the closed first switch in a printing station, a seriesof second leg selector switches, means for closing any one of saidsecond switches to the exclusion of the entire remainder of said secondswitches, locking devices which hold a closed second switch in thatcondition and thereby prevent closure of any unclosed selector switch, asecond leg rotatable type drum having printing faces respectivelyrelated to said 14 second switches, second leg circuiting and actuatingmeans which in response to closure of one of said second switches turnsaid second drum and then halt it with its printing face correspondingto the closed second switch in a printing station, means to effect aprinting cycle of the machine, and release mechanism responsive theretowhereby said locking devices are unlocked after completion of a printingoperation by said corresponding printing faces.

2. The combination with devices according to claim 1 of means responsiveto closure of one of said first selector switches and one of said secondselector switches whereby the mechanical ticket production cycle of saidissuer machine is initiated, and cam devices which operate as part ofand at the end of said cycle and which form part of said releasemechanism.

3. Devices according to claim 1 wherein said spring loaded latch andlocking means comprise a lifting spring for each of said plungers, ashouldered portion and a double conical latch portion on each of saidplungers, a follower nose for each of said plungers able to ride theshouldered portion thereof and thereby close the related first switch, alaterally displaceable latching plate having holes in it engageable bysaid double conical latch portions, and a loading spring for saidlatching plate.

4. Devices according to claim 1 wherein said means for closing any oneof said second switches to the eX- clusion of the entire remainder ofsaid second switches, and said locking devices which hold a closedsecond switch in closed condition, comprise a depressible plunger foreach of said second switches, spring loading means for each of saidplungers, a shouldered portion on each of said plungers, a follower nosefor each of said plungers able to ride the shouldered portion thereofand thereby close the related second switch, an arcuate dial platehaving holes in it aligned with said plungers, a depressible hand leverhaving a registration peg thereon able to enter any one of said holes, apitman pivotaily connected to said hand lever, a latching lever which ispivotally connected to said pitman and which has a locking step in it, alooking lever having a corner portion able to engage in said step, and aloading spring which influences said corner portion to home in saidstep.

5. Devices according to claim 1 wherein said means for closing any oneof said second switches to the exclusion of the entire remainder of saidsecond switches, and said locking devices which hold a closed secondswitch in closed condition comprise a finger depressible press buttonplunger for each of said second switches, spring loading means for eachof said plungers, a shouldered portion and a double conical latchportion on each of said plungers, a follower nose for each of saidplungers able to ride the shouldered portion thereof and thereby closethe related second switch, a laterally displaceable latching platehaving holes therein engageable by said double conical latch portions, aloading spring for said latching plate, a finger depressible pressbutton start plunger having a locking head on it, a locking lever havinga spur on it able to engage over said locking head, a loading springwhich influences said spur to engage over said locking head, a pair ofnormally open lock contacts closable by said locking lever uponengagement of its spur over said locking head, an electromagnet which isenergized upon closure of said lock contacts, and a movable lock plungerwhich upon energization of said electromagnet obstructs said latchingplate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,744,771 Julius Ian. 28, 1930 2,534,602 Julius Dec. 19, 1950 2,592,312Milburn Apr. 8, 1952 2,629,319 Handley Feb. 24, 1953 2,691,342 Johnstonet al. Oct. 12, 1954

